Sign inCreate free garage
Research · Compact Cars

2009 Subaru LegacyRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 13 safety recalls and 65 owner complaints for the 2009 Subaru Legacy. Most complaints involve air bags (31) and engine (7). The EPA rates it 20–22 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
20–22mpg
EPA · 6 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
13campaigns
Latest Jan 2020
Owner complaints
65
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$2,850est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

13 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V002000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V001000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V003000
See all 13 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

65 complaints filed with NHTSA · Apr 2009 – Jan 2025
  1. Air bags31
  2. Engine7
  3. Service brakes6
  4. Structure5
  5. Electrical system4
  6. Visibility/wiper3
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic3
  8. Exterior lighting2
  9. Power train2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Legacy model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996129
1997143
1998116
199997
200094
200180
200258
2005184
200687
200733
200865
200965
2010151
2011167
201290
201366
201453
2015160
2016147
2017119
2018118
2019123
2020121
202132
202234
202310
202417
20256
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
4
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

31 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED FIRST WEEK HE BOUGHT IT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. STEVE MOYER SUBARU (201 S CENTRE AVE, LEESPORT, PA 19533), WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS SENSOR WAS REPLACED AS PART OF A RECALL PREVIOUSLY BY AN UNKNOWN DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THEY COULD FIX IT BUT THE CONSUMER WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,800. *BF*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 13, 2020Air bagsODI 11321003

Engine

7 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED A LOT OF OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2020EngineODI 11339907

Service brakes

6 reports1 crash
“Under Subaru campaign WQK47, which supersedes an earlier campaign, 05-09 Legacy/Outback and other models are known to undergo accelerated brake line corrosion due to sub-par materials and design. Subaru of America's "fix" for this issue is to inspect the lines: if the lines are compromised, they replace them. If the lines are corroded but not yet compromised, the lines are coated with an anti-corrosion wax. This wax washes off the car and is ineffective. Subaru performed this recall work insufficiently on my vehicle, failing to identify the severity of the corrosion. They coated the lines, called it "fixed", and the brake lines later ruptured under normal driving conditions. This caused a highway near-miss at speed that could have impacted everyone on the road. Multiple Subaru dealerships in Connecticut have refused to re-inspect and repair the vehicle under the recall campaign, despite it being a known critical safety concern, and despite knowledge that the original parts and anti-corrosion application are sub-par. They insist that because the ineffective recall campaign was already "completed", they bear no further responsibility for the design compromises…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2024Service brakes, Visibility/wiper, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11611948
All 2009 Legacy problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

6 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl · 2.5L 4-cyl turbo · 3.0L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S4) · Manual 5-spd · Automatic (S5) · Manual 6-spd
Drive
4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Legacy AWD
Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202622$2,850404
Legacy AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202722$2,850404
Legacy AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182521$3,700423
Legacy AWD
Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182420$3,850444
Legacy AWD
Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 3.0 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172420$3,850444
Legacy AWD
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172420$3,850444
  • Legacy AWD
    Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    20 city · 26 hwy · $2,850/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,850/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo
    18 city · 25 hwy · $3,700/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy AWD
    Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo
    18 city · 24 hwy · $3,850/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy AWD
    Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 3.0 L
    17 city · 24 hwy · $3,850/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Legacy AWD
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo
    17 city · 24 hwy · $3,850/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Subaru Legacy as of Nov 11, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 11, 2026Vehicle 5032
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2009 Legacy questions

How many recalls does the 2009 Subaru Legacy have?

13 safety recalls as of Nov 11, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2009 Subaru Legacy problems?

Owners filed 65 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (31), engine (7), service brakes (6). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2009 Subaru Legacy get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Subaru Legacy at 20–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 11, 2026